Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi has pulled some strawberries out of the fridge and is putting some in a bowl.-
-Seems like he's going to snack on them with some sugar instead of going through the trouble of making a proper meal right now.-
-...Besides, he hasn't had some nice strawberries in a while...-
"I didn't ditch the crowbar."
-...Sounds like you might have struck a nerve... He suddenly sounds pretty stern.-
-He would never ditch it. It means too much to him...-
-And it helped keep him grounded back home...-
"It's being upgraded."
—
Basement (Amnesiac Aichi)
-Aichi's down in the basement, looking at one of the punching bags.-
-He wants to keep training so much... It's the only way he'll even remotely be able to forgive himself...-
-Continuing to train with all of his strength... He promised Jiren he would continue training...-
-So while he absolutely hates himself for leading Jiren to his death, and for not having him around to stop Zamasu...-
-...He has to keep training. Jiren wouldn't want him to stop.-
-He puts his hand on the punching bag in deep thought.-
-To those watching him, they might just think he's about to start training.-
-To those that know he has a concussion, they might be a tad worried since, you know, he's not supposed to be doing any serious physical activity.-
Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
"I asked for it to be unbreakable."
-Nothing quite as ridiculous as a chainsaw.-
-...-
-...Perhaps he could have asked for something more powerful against the Youmu, but honestly he has G and his Blaster Blade Exceed form now.-
-Honestly the crowbar's mostly a last resort now.-
-It's more of a keepsake.-
"I never want it to break."
-...Yes, because a crowbar that never breaks is going to do so much to a massive horde of zombies, right, Xenos?-
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 5th 2018 at 9:51:37 AM
Wow, a tall order.
An unbreakable crowbar...
Well, I'll give you one thing here:
You'll never worry about not being able to open a crate or a door.
I mean, I could say that before you made it unbreakable too.
And unbreakable's not exactly unbend-able.
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postKitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-...If it can still bend...-
"...Just as long as it stays in one piece..."
-...Sounds like while it would bother him for it to bend, it seems like he'd rather have that than it breaking into pieces.-
-...And yeah, the doors and crates thing is actually a good point.-
"It's more than just a crowbar."
-At least to him it is...-
Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi snaps his head towards Xenos with something of a glare.-
-Yikes. You're really hitting a nerve.-
"Go ahead and make fun of me all you want..."
-He's gone through that in the past. After all, he was bullied for... eh, probably half of his life?-
-He hasn't had to deal with something like that in a long time, but he's far stronger in the face of something like that now.-
-He can handle crude comments aimed towards him. It doesn't bother him at all.-
-However... the nature of this comment still majorly struck a nerve.-
-Not because he's insulting Aichi...-
-Xenos is attacking the idea of everything that crowbar symbolizes to Aichi. Making snide comments about making a shrine to it.-
-His friends have a good chance of being dead out there. He refuses to accept that they are, but there is that possibility. Aichi has this crowbar because it symbolizes his friendship, and it keeps him moving on.-
-To have it reminds him of what's important in a world gone mad.-
-For Xenos to say something thoughtless like that... Whether he's aware of the nature of the crowbar at all (Which the narrator does not recall whether he does or not), it still hits Aichi hard.-
"...But don't make fun of that crowbar."
-Geez, he seems really serious.-
-And he notes G's presence, but for now he's a bit too focused on Xenos to say anything or do anything.-
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 5th 2018 at 10:27:17 AM
Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-'Hard to take seriously'?!-
-Aichi completely turns to face Xenos, instead of having been facing the counter while looking at him like before.-
"My friends are out there surrounded by zombies and it is all I have to keep them with me until I find them!"
-G, he's getting really emotional right now...-
-Heck, he actually slipped and called them 'zombies' and not 'Youmu'.-
"You might think it's ridiculous, but it's not."
-...-
-...He doesn't have to listen to this.-
-He starts walking away, not even saying another word.-
-He can't stay and listen to Xenos any longer.-
-...Looks like you made Aichi rage quit, Xenos.-
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 5th 2018 at 10:50:17 AM
Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-He isn't looking at G, just continuing to walk.-
"I don't know. I just know I need to—"
-And then he hears Xenos and stops dead in his tracks.-
-He stays there for a few seconds before turning back to face Xenos.-
"...What did you say?"
-His friends are NOT tools.-
-How could someone ever say something like that?!-
-This crowbar symbolizes his friendship... His will to fight... To protect them...-
-THEY.-
-ARE.-
-NOT.-
-TOOLS!-
-Yep, you're only making that flame of anger in his eyes grow stronger, Xenos.-
-G... He's really not doing well now...!-
Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 5th 2018 at 10:58:08 AM
-grins-
Oh, just that you know... crowbars are tools...
And you just basically told me that your crowbar represents your friends... so I made the only logical conclusion that therefore.
Your friends are tools to you.
To stand yourself up with, and feel good about yourself, all entirely on their kind support... and now they're missing, you have nothing else, do you?
-he stares Aichi dead in the eyes-
Am I wrong?
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postKitchen (Survivor Aichi)
"They're not! They're not tools!!!"
-You can hear the sheer emotion in his voice now.-
-...And then he hears more of what Xenos says...-
-...-
-...T-That's not...-
-...T-That's not why...-
-He had risen above relying on them...-
-He's been independent... and strong...-
-He... has hasn't relied on them in a long time...-
-...Or... Or has he...?-
-He's been... He's been relying on them during his time fighting Youmu...-
-...Relying on them through that crowbar...-
-...-
-...He...-
-...He really does have nothing else now...-
-...-
-...-
-...W-What if... W-What if Xenos is right...? What if Aichi has been using them as tools this whole time...? Desperate to find them simply because he can't live without them...?-
-And as Xenos stares into his eyes he feels his anger start to fade, replaced with some kind of fear, or guilt...-
-Some complex emotion...-
-And Xenos can see it clearly in Aichi's widening eyes.-
"...Y-You're wrong... I..."
-H-He's not using them as tools... H-He's not using them as tools...-
-The tone of his voice is clear. Suddenly he's starting to doubt himself.-
-Aichi used to be confident. He used to be strong.-
-...But all that has happened has completely shattered that strength. What you've been seeing now is the attempt to glue it all together.-
-An attempt to fix something that has been completely broken...-
-...But you can't truly fix shattered glass with hastily applied glue...-
-He was shattered the moment he realized inside Card Capital that he was going to die.-
-The hastily applied glue began with the crowbar. The struggle. His victory over those disgusting creatures.-
-From there he glued more and more together hastily.-
-All in an attempt to continue functioning and survive.-
-And now... He feels like that strength he forced himself to build back up is being broken away again.-
-With this harsh realization that...-
-...Maybe he's only been using his friends this whole time...-
-Perhaps before the apocalypse he could have shook his head and said 'No, it's not like that', but with his shattered self...-
-...That confidence has long since faded...-
-...G... He's not even in a position to answer you now...-
Am I, really?
I hear the doubt in your voice.
The truth hurts, doesn't it?
But do you know something else?
I don't care if you think I'm wrong. Because I don't care to throw you to my point of view.
You can live in the delusions, the fantasies, the worlds where you are a hero.
But when you come to look at the mirror.
Take the cape off. Look at your broken self.
And stop pretending you're not broken.
And then, when you stop pretending what you had can be repaired... build something new.
Because that's what I did. And look where I am today.
Isn't it grand?
-Xenos doesn't seem to react to the incoming punch-
1.5 imperial gallons of tea were consumed during the writing of this postKitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi doesn't even fight G making him punch Xenos.-
-The strawberries that were in the bowl he had land all over the place.-
-Aichi isn't acknowledging any of that at all.-
-Instead he just keeps staring at Xenos, listening as he feels everything crashing down around him.-
-That look of horror present.-
-'Delusions'... 'Fantasies'...-
-'Take the cape off'...-
-He is...-
-He has been...-
-...broken...-
...His friends are...-
-...H-He's been using them this whole time...-
-...F-For his own sake...-
-...H-Hasn't he...?-
-Aichi feels a crushing sorrow and guilt consume him all at once.-
-...-
-H-He can't...-
-...-
-He staggers back a few steps, unable to even get himself to say another word.-
-...And then he runs...-
-He just runs away.-
-To where? He doesn't know.-
-He can't handle this...-
-He can't handle this...-
-...H-He can't handle this...-
-...G, he's been badly hurt...-

Kitchen (Survivor Aichi)
-Aichi walks into the kitchen, expecting to get a meal...-
-...When he sees Xenos.-
-He's still not that pleased with him considering what he does, but so long as he doesn't threaten anyone around him...-
-...Aichi will be able to tolerate his presence.-
"...Hello."
-Hey, it's guy from before!-
-Wait...-
-...WHERE'S HIS CROWBAR?! It's not on his back!-